Internet telephony with interactive information

ABSTRACT

A subscriber ( 12, 14, 16 ) initiating an Internet telephony call may receive specific content targeted to that subscriber in accordance with a match between at least one of the dialed number and the calling party number. Upon receipt of the subscriber&#39;s Internet telephony call, an Internet Telephony Service Provider server ( 18 ) searches each of a dialed number database, a calling party number database and a default database to establish a match between the calling party number, the dialed number or a range of either numbers. Upon finding a match, the Internet Telephony Service Provider server retrieves corresponding content, typically in the form of a URL that links to an associated web site, to provide to the subscriber who may elect to retrieve that information at the subscriber&#39;s discretion.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/779,018, filed Feb. 27, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,019,955, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/830,639, filed Jul.6, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,406,224, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/945,297, filed Sep. 20, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,782,840, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/625,612, filed Jul. 26, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,233,all of which are herein incorporated by reference their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a technique for providing a caller initiatingan Internet-telephony call with additional information during the courseof the call.

BACKGROUND ART

The proliferation of large-scale inter-connected computer networks, suchas the Internet, as well as advances in the field of speechdigitization, has made Internet telephony a reality. Indeed, varioustelecommunications services providers such as AT&T currently offerInternet telephony service. While present-day Internet telephony serviceusually does not afford the same quality as traditional plain oldtelephone service, most service providers that offer Internet telephonydo so at a lower cost to the subscriber. For many subscribers, therelatively low cost of Internet telephony service makes it veryattractive for many types of calls.

Many subscribers of Internet telephony service initiate telephone callsover the Internet via a personal computer. In connection with makingsuch calls, the provider of the Internet telephony service may providethe Internet telephony subscriber with advertising, in the form of abanner ad or the like, at the choosing of the service provider, butunrelated to the call itself. Indeed, Internet Service Providers (ISP)that provides subscribers with access to the Internet generally oftenprovide their subscribers with advertising chosen by the ISP. Since allsubscribers receive the advertising provided by Internet telephonyproviders and ISPs, the advertising will often reach those who have nointerest in the particular good or service being advertised.Consequently, such indiscriminant advertising has limited effectiveness.

There currently exist techniques in voice telephony for providingtargeted advertising to a calling party. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,007, issuedon May 18, 1989, in the name of Patrick Marino et al. and assigned toAT&T, discloses a technique for affording reduced rate long distanceservice to a calling party in exchange for the calling party receivingan advertising message. During the call set-up, the calling partyreceives an advertising message selected in accordance with one or morefactors such as the originating number of the calling party, asdetermined from Automatic Number Identification (ANI). In this way, theadvertising provided to a caller can be restricted.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,628, issued on Jul. 4, 2000, in the name of FrancoisSawyer, discloses a technique for providing targeted advertising tocallers during a video conference call. Upon receipt of a video call ina telecommunications network, an ingress switch receiving the call willquery a centralized database to retrieve an advertising message inaccordance with the caller's preference. The caller then receives suchadvertisements in a portion of the caller's video screen. The calledparty may also receive advertisements. Both the calling and calledparties may select among different advertisements for viewing. Once theeither party has selected an advertisement, each may select a moredetailed advertisement for joint viewing.

While these approaches do afford a calling party the ability obtainselective advertising, such approaches suffer from the disadvantage thatthey do not allow the called party to make content specificallyavailable to the calling party at the discretion of the called party.Thus, there is need for a method for allowing the called party to makeavailable (i.e., to “push”) content to the calling party at thediscretion of the called party.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, amethod is provided for enabling a calling party placing an Internettelephony call to selectively receive content information during thecourse of the call at the discretion of the called party, the callingparty, or a combination of both. The method commences upon receipt at anInternet Telephony Service Provider of a calling party number and adialed number from a calling party initiating an Internet telephonecall. Following receipt of the calling party number and dialed number,the Internet telephony provider serves to set-up the Internet telephonycall. In the course of setting up the call, the Internet TelephonyService Provider determines what targeted information (e.g.,advertising, topical information, regional-specific information, callerauthentication, streaming video feed) to provide to the calling party inaccordance with a match with at least the dialed number, and morepreferably, in accordance with a match between a combination of thedialed number and the called party number. Thereafter, the InternetTelephony Service Provider makes such targeted information available tothe calling party, typically in the form of one or more UniversalResource Locators (URLs) which the calling party may access at theirdiscretion. As needed, the Internet Telephony Service Provider mayupdate the content provided to the calling party during the course ofthe call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block schematic diagram of a network architecturefor providing Internet telephony Service in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the method of theinvention for providing an Internet telephony caller with targetedinformation;

FIG. 3 illustrates in tabular form a portion of the contents of acalling party number database comprising part of the networkarchitecture of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates in tabular form a portion of the contents of a dialednumber database comprising part of the network architecture of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 5 illustrates in tabular form a portion of the contents of adefault database comprising part of the network architecture of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a network architecture 10 for providing Internettelephony service, together with selected content information to one ofa plurality of callers 12, 14 and 16 initiating an Internet telephonecall. At the heart of the architecture 10 is an Internet TelephonyService Provider (ITSP) server 18 operated by provider of InternetTelephony service such as AT&T. The server 18 enjoys links to an ITSPcalling party number (CPN) database 20, an ITSP dialed number (DN)database 22 and a ITSP default database 24, described in greater detailin FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

A network 26 connects the ITSP server 18 to each of the subscribers 12,14 and 16. The network 26 may include the Public Switched TelephoneNetwork (PSTN), a wireless network, a data network, a cable televisionnetwork or a combination of any or all of them. Associated with thenetwork 26 is a dialed number server (DNS) 28 that provides a mappingbetween Domain names and IP Addresses as defined in IETF RFC 1034 and1035.

While not critical to the invention, the subscribers 12, 14, and 16 mayaccess the ITSP server 18 to commence an Internet telephone call indifferent ways. For example, the subscriber 12 may employ a conventionalpersonal computer 30 with a modem (not shown), together with aspeaker/microphone 32. Alternatively, the subscriber 14 may use atelephone set 34 coupled to the network 26 via a broadband telephonyinterface (BTI) 36. Note that the BTI 36 could also couple a personalcomputer 38 at the premises of the subscriber 14 to the network 26 aswell. The subscriber 16 may access the network 26 from a telephone 40via the combination of a multimedia terminal adapter 42 and a cablemodem 44. The cable modem 44 may also connect a personal computer 46 atthe premises of the subscriber 16 to the network 26. The telephonenumber of the originating caller, hereinafter referred to as the callingparty number (CPN) is passed to server 18 by the client softwareapplication on 30, 36, and 44. As explained in detail below, the ITSPserver 18 makes use of the CPN to determine what information to provideto the calling party in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of the steps executed by the ITSP server18 of FIG. 1 to provide selected information to one or more of thesubscribers 12, 14, and 16 of FIG. 1 in connection with an Internettelephony call in accordance with the invention. The ITSP server 18enters the method upon execution of step 100 of FIG. 2 and thereafterawaits an Internet telephone call which, one or more of the subscribers12, 14 and 16 of FIG. 1 typically initiate by dialing a destination(dialed number) during step 102. The dialed number entered by thesubscriber initiating the Internet telephony call is received by theITSP server 18 of FIG. 1 during step 104, along the CPN, as provided bythe DNS 28 of FIG. 1.

Upon receipt of the CPN and DN associated with the Internet telephonycall initiated by a subscriber, the ITSP server 18 begins setting up thecall during step 106 of FIG. 2. In other words, the ITSP server 18establishes the links needed to complete the call by a callingsubscriber. In connection with setting up the call, the ITSP server 18determines what if any targeted visual information or content,typically, although not necessarily advertising, to provide to thecalling party during step 108 of FIG. 2. As discussed in greater detailin connection with FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the ITSP server 18 determines thetargeted information to provide to the calling party in accordance withat a match of at least the DN, and typically, in accordance with a matchbetween both the CPN and DN using the databases 20, 22, and 24 of FIG.1.

Having determined what information to provide to the calling partyduring step 108, the ITSP server 18 provides or “pushes” the content tothe calling party, typically by providing the URL of the content to thesubscriber during step 110. The targeted visual content appears on thecalling party's display device during step 112 so that the caller canview that information at his/her discretion. The calling party's displaydevice could include a display monitor (not shown) associated with apersonal computer, a television set, an internal LCD or LED read outassociated with a telephone, or a peripheral display device, such as aPersonal Data Assistant. During the course of the call, the ITSP server18 of FIG. 1 may update or refresh the content, either automatically, orby attendant control during step 114 of FIG. 2. As an example of thelatter scenario, an attendant associated with the called party mayupdate the targeted information in response to a request made by thecalling party for additional information during the course of the call.When the calling party terminates the call, the process ends (step 116).

The ITSP server 18 determines what targeted information to provide tothe calling party by searching the CPN, DN and Default databases 20, 22and 24, respectively. Although three separate databases 20, 22 and 24are illustrated in FIG. 1, a single database could contain theinformation. As depicted in FIG. 3, the CPN database 20 comprises atable 200 listing a plurality of CPN blocks 202, each block containingthe telephone number of a subscriber that subscribes to Internettelephony service from the ITSP server 18 of FIG. 1. Associated witheach of the CPN blocks 202 is a corresponding one of content blocks 204.Each content block 204 associated with a corresponding CPN block 202includes one or more URLs that each provide a link to content targetedinformation (e.g., advertising) for access by the subscriber associatedwith the particular CPN. Thus, for example, the CPN 732-420-0000 hasthree separate URLs associated with this number, namelywww.mtv.com/advertise, www.vias.com/adv/#33, and www.hotbot.com/message.

There are various mechanisms for selecting the particular URLsassociated with each CPN. For example, each subscriber could identifyhis/her favorite URLs to the Internet Telephony Service Provider thatmaligning the ITSP 18. To the extent that a caller has identified to aweb site a willingness to have the caller's telephone number linked tothat site, then the web site could provide the ITSP server 18 with suchinformation.

Each content block 204 is associated with a corresponding one ofpriority blocks 206. Each priority block 206 has a priority valuecorresponding to the URLs within the associated content block. Thus forexample, the URLs www.mtv.com/advertise, www.vias.com/adv/#33, andwww.hotbot.com/message within a first content block 204 have priorities0.7, 0.3 and 0.6, respectively, as specified by the correspondingpriority block 206. The priority associated with each URL defines thepriority by which the ITSP server 18 of FIG. 1 selects the URL to “push”to the particular CPN. Thus, the URL having the higher priority isselected before a URL having a lower priority. Note that some CPNs mayonly have a single associated URL in which case, the priority associatedwith that URL is 1.

Each content block 204 has a corresponding one of next content indexes208 associated therewith. Each next content index 208 comprises apointer that points to a particular URL within the corresponding contentblock. In some instances, a calling party may prefer to have the ITSPserver 18 of FIG. 1 loop through the URLs. The next content index trackswhich of the URLs is currently identified to facilitate such looping.

FIG. 4 depicts a tabular view of the CPN database 22 of FIG. 1. Like theCPN database 20 of FIG. 3, the DN database 22 is depicted in FIG. 4. asa table 300 that includes a plurality of DN blocks 302, each DN blockcontaining the number of a called party that wishes to provideselectable content to a calling party in accordance with the invention.Thus, for example, the first of the DN blocks 302 contains the telephonenumber 800-HILTON1, associated with the Hilton Hotel Chain.

In practice, the ITSP server 18 will populate each of the DN blocks 302with the DN of each entity that wishes to provide content to Internettelephony callers. The Internet Telephony Service Provider could chargea fee for this service in several different ways. For example, theInternet Telephony Service Provider could charge a flat monthly rate, ora graduated rate based on the number of URLs listed for each DN. Inplace of, or in addition to a monthly fee, the Internet TelephonyService Provider could charge a certain fee each time the ITSP server 18provides content to a called party.

Associated with each of the DN blocks 302 is a corresponding one ofcontent blocks 304, each content block containing at least one URL thatdirects the calling party to content associated with the called party.Thus, for example, the content block 304 associated with the DN blockcontaining the dialed number 800-HILTON1 may contain the URLwww.hilton.com/bestbuys?customer=‘CPN’, where ‘CPN’ represents theactual subscriber's CPN (this allows the content to be tailed to theindividual subscriber). Each content block 304 has an associatedpriority block 306 that contains the priority related with the contentcontained in that content block. Thus, for example, the content block304 containing the URL www.hilton.com/bestbuys?customer=‘CPN’ has apriority of 1.0. Other content blocks may have the same or differentpriorities. The priority associated with each URL in a particularcontent block 304 determines in what priority the ITSP server 18provides the URL to the calling party.

FIG. 5 depicts a tabular view of the default database 24 of FIG. 1. Asdescribed below, the default database 24 allows the ITSP server 18 ofFIG. 1 to select targeted information that matches a range of DNs orCPNs using wildcards (e.g.*). The default database of FIG. 5 appears asa table 400 that includes a plurality of match blocks 402. Each matchblock 402 contains a particular matching criterion. For example, thefirst match block 402 contains the matching criterion “DN=303*”. WhenITSP 18 of FIG. 1 receives a dialed number that includes the area code303, then there is a match with the contents of the first match block402. The other match blocks 402 contain different matching criterion.Associated with each match blocks 402 is a corresponding one of contentblocks 404. Each content block 404 contains at least one URL that theITSP server 18 of FIG. 1 provides to the calling party whose criteria(i.e., DN and/or CPN) matches the contents of the corresponding matchblock. Thus, for example, for an Internet telephony call whose dialednumber contains the area code “303”, the associated content block willcontain content associated with that area code, such as the URLwww.denver.com/welcome. Each content block 404 has an associatedpriority block 406 that contains the priority linked with the content inthat content block. Thus, for example, the content block 404 containingthe URL www.denver.com/welcome has a priority of 0.1. Other contentblocks may have the same of different priorities. The priority in eachpriority block 404 determines in what priority the ITSP server 18 ofFIG. 1 makes the content (i.e., the URL) available.

In operation, when the ITSP server 18 of FIG. 1 receives the CPN and DNin connection with an Internet telephony call, the server searches eachof the CPN, DN and default databases 20, 22 and 24, respectively. Uponfinding a match in any of the databases, the ITSP server 18 will thenprovide (push) the corresponding content to the calling party. Thiscontent may be directly provided to the calling or the calling party maybe given the option to chose to receive the content (by “clicking” onthe URL) at his/her discretion. In case a possible conflict arisesbetween the matches returned by the databases, the ITSP server 18 willprovide the content having the highest priority.

The foregoing describes a technique for providing an Internet Telephonycaller with interactive content.

The above-described embodiments merely illustrate the principles of theinvention. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications andchanges that will embody the principles of the invention and fall withinthe spirit and scope thereof.

1. A method for presenting a calling party with targeted information,comprising: transmitting, by a calling party device, a calling partynumber and a dialed number to an internet telephony service provider,wherein the dialed number is associated with a called party; receiving,by the calling party device, the targeted information from the internettelephony service provider, wherein the targeted information is based onthe dialed number, wherein the targeted information is transmitted fromthe internet telephony service provider based on a discretion of thecalled party; and displaying, by the calling party device, the targetedinformation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying thetargeted information comprises: displaying a universal resource locatorlink.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the displaying the targetedinformation further comprises: displaying a resource identified by theuniversal resource locator link in a response to an input received viathe calling party device.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:updating the targeted information during a call between the callingparty device and a device associated with the dialed number.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the targeted information is updatedautomatically.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the targetedinformation is updated in response to an input from the called party. 7.The method of claim 3, wherein the resource identified by the universalresource locator link comprises regional-specific information.
 8. Anapparatus for presenting a calling party with targeted information, theapparatus comprising: a display; a processor; and a memory storingcomputer program instructions which, when executed by the processorcause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:transmitting a calling party number and a dialed number to an internettelephony service provider, wherein the dialed number is associated witha called party; receiving the targeted information from the internettelephony service provider based on the dialed number, wherein thetargeted information is transmitted from the internet telephony serviceprovider based on a discretion of the called party; and displaying thetargeted information via the display.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the displaying the targeted information via the displaycomprises: displaying a universal resource locator link.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the displaying the targeted informationvia the display further comprises: displaying a resource identified bythe universal resource locator link in response to an input receivedfrom the calling party.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, the operationsfurther comprising: receiving an updated targeted information during acall between the apparatus and a device associated with the dialednumber.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving the updatedtargeted information occurs automatically.
 13. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the receiving the updated targeted information occurs inresponse to an input from the called party.
 14. The apparatus of claim10, wherein the resource identified by the universal resource locatorlink comprises regional-specific information.
 15. A method fortransmitting to a calling party targeted information, the methodcomprising: receiving, at a called party device associated with a dialednumber, a call from a calling party device; receiving, by the calledparty device, an input from a user associated with the called partydevice indicating that the targeted information is to be transmitted tothe calling party device based on a discretion of the called party,wherein the targeted information is based on the dialed number; andtransmitting, by the called party device, the targeted information tothe calling party.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the targetedinformation comprises a universal resource locator link.
 17. The methodof claim 16, wherein the targeted information further comprises aresource identified by the universal resource locator link.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising: updating the targetedinformation during the call between the calling party device and thecalled party device.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the updatingthe targeted information occurs automatically.
 20. The method of claim18, wherein the updating the targeted information occurs in response toreceiving another input from the user associated with the called partydevice.